Which term describes user mistakes that can contribute to accidents in complex systems?

Which term describes user mistakes that can contribute to accidents in complex systems?

• A. Human error
• B. Ergonomics
• C. Fatigue
• D. Human information processing system

Answer: (A)

Mistakes made by people operating complex systems can contribute to accidents. The term used for these user mistakes is human error, which covers slips, lapses, or misjudgments that occur during operation and can lead to unsafe outcomes. Ergonomics, by contrast, is the study of designing tools and environments to fit human abilities to prevent mistakes, not the mistakes themselves. Fatigue is a condition that can increase the likelihood of mistakes but isn’t the label for the mistakes. The human information processing system is a cognitive model describing how people perceive and respond to information, not the term for the mistakes.

Mistakes made by people operating complex systems can contribute to accidents. The term used for these user mistakes is human error, which covers slips, lapses, or misjudgments that occur during operation and can lead to unsafe outcomes. Ergonomics, by contrast, is the study of designing tools and environments to fit human abilities to prevent mistakes, not the mistakes themselves. Fatigue is a condition that can increase the likelihood of mistakes but isn’t the label for the mistakes. The human information processing system is a cognitive model describing how people perceive and respond to information, not the term for the mistakes.